Green Bay (11-3) at Minnesota (10-4)
When: Monday, December 23rd, 2019
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium,
Minneapolis, MN
Time: 8:15 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Minnesota -4.5/46.5
The final Monday Night Football game of the season could be one of the best as the NFC North title hangs in the balance with the Green Bay Packers visiting the Minnesota Vikings. The division is over if the Packers come away with a big road victory Monday night and they’re also seeking a first round bye in the playoffs with one of the top two seeds. Green Bay comes in with some momentum, winning three in a row after an embarrassing 37-8 loss at San Francisco in Week 12. The Vikings defense has been strong in the last two weeks in winning 20-7 and 39-10 against the Detroit Lions and L.A. Chargers respectively. The first division tie-breaker is head-to-head and Green Bay beat Minnesota 21-16 at Lambeau Field in Week 2. Aaron Rodgers threw two first-quarter touchdown passes and Aaron Jones made it 21-0 very early in the second quarter on a short TD run, and the Packers held on despite not scoring again – much like they did last week versus Chicago. Vikings QB Kirk Cousins completed just 14-of-32 for 230 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Dalvin Cook rushed for 154 yards and a score but probably won’t be on the field Monday due to a shoulder injury. The Vikings outgained the Packers 421-335 but had four turnovers. The home team is 6-1 against the spread in the past seven meetings and the Under is 5-0 in the previous five at Minnesota.
Rodgers threw for 203 yards and a score in last week’s win over the Bears, while Jones rushed for two touchdowns and is second in the NFL with 17 total touchdowns, fourth-most in Packers history. Rodgers keeps moving up the record board in passing yards (13th) with 46,407 after last week, passing Vinny Testaverde and Carson Palmer. Green Bay picked off Mitchel Trubisky twice, giving the Packers 15 INTs on the season after recording just seven last season. Wide receiver Davante Adams caught seven balls versus Chicago and has at lest that many receptions six times this season. Adams also had seven catches for 106 yards in the first meeting with the Vikings. Green Bay is ranked 22nd against the pass and 24th versus the run, but allow only 20.2 points a game thanks to all the turnovers they create.
The Vikings haven’t clinched a playoff spot yet, but would do so if the Los Angeles Rams lose in San Francisco on Saturday night. The only way they don’t make it is if they lose to Green Bay and Chicago at home, while L.A. wins their final two. The Vikings defense forced seven turnovers and had a defensive touchdown in the 39-10 win at the Chargers last Sunday. Those were the most takeaways forced since Mike Zimmer became the team’s head coach. Cook’s back up at running back – rookie Alexander Mattison – missed the game with an ankle injury and is questionable for Monday. Cousins traditionally has fared well against Green Bay, throwing for 1,372 yards and 11 touchdowns with a 112.8 passer rating in four career meetings. Defensively, the Vikings are eighth against the run (99.0), but 20th versus the pass (239.9) and allow 18.5 points per game.
Green Bay just continues to win and anytime you can give me this many points with Aaron Rodgers under center, I’ll take it. Cousins is 0-8 on Monday Night Football. Which quarterback would you take?
Pick: Packers +5.5 (More Week 16 Free Picks)
Packers are 6-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
Packers are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games on fieldturf.
Packers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games in Week 16.
Packers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 road games.
Packers are 13-6-1 ATS in their last 20 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
Packers are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games as a road underdog.
Packers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 Monday games.
Packers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Packers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS win.
Vikings are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in Week 16.
Vikings are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Vikings are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 vs. NFC.
Vikings are 41-17-1 ATS in their last 59 games on fieldturf.
Vikings are 12-5-1 ATS in their last 18 games as a favorite.
Vikings are 36-15-1 ATS in their last 52 home games.
Vikings are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 games as a home favorite.
Vikings are 23-11 ATS in their last 34 games in December.
Vikings are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
Vikings are 4-13 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
Vikings are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
Vikings are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
Vikings are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Vikings are 2-11 ATS in their last 13 Monday games.
Under is 4-0 in Packers last 4 games following a straight up win.
Under is 7-0 in Packers last 7 vs. NFC North.
Under is 8-1 in Packers last 9 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Packers last 6 games overall.
Under is 5-1 in Packers last 6 vs. NFC.
Under is 5-1 in Packers last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 4-1 in Packers last 5 games following a ATS win.
Under is 4-1 in Packers last 5 games as an underdog.
Under is 4-1 in Packers last 5 games as a road underdog.
Over is 4-1 in Packers last 5 games on fieldturf.
Over is 7-2 in Packers last 9 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
Over is 17-6 in Packers last 23 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
Under is 8-3 in Packers last 11 vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 7-3 in Packers last 10 games in Week 16.
Over is 21-9 in Packers last 30 road games.
Over is 4-0 in Vikings last 4 games following a straight up win.
Over is 4-0 in Vikings last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 8-1 in Vikings last 9 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Over is 5-1 in Vikings last 6 games overall.
Over is 4-1 in Vikings last 5 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Vikings last 5 games following a ATS win.
Under is 25-8 in Vikings last 33 vs. NFC North.
Under is 6-2 in Vikings last 8 Monday games.
Under is 8-3 in Vikings last 11 games in December.
Over is 5-2 in Vikings last 7 games as a favorite.
Over is 5-2 in Vikings last 7 games on fieldturf.
Under is 10-4 in Vikings last 14 vs. NFC.
Under is 40-17 in Vikings last 57 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
Under is 7-3 in Vikings last 10 games following a straight up win of more than 14 points.
Packers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 meetings in Minnesota.
Under is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.
Home team is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
Under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in Minnesota.
